The Art Of Love [VP-FF]

Chapter 3

Nervous.

Pete was absolutely nervous.

When he woke up that morning, his ears were filled with the calm, rhythmic beating of a heart. He found himself basking in the warmth and steady vibrations. It wasn’t usual for him to feel this comfortable in his sleep.

As his eyes fluttered open, realization struck him like a bolt. He was lying on Vegas's... his husband’s chest. That wasn’t part of his normal routine. Internally, he gasped and prepared to pull away, but before he could move, an arm tightened around him, pulling him even closer. Vegas’s eyes were still closed, but there was a knowing smirk on his face.

“Sleep a little more,” Vegas’s husky morning voice rumbled, sending Pete’s heart racing. His cheeks flushed twice as red, and he bit his lip, trying to stay still, like a statue. His palms grew sweaty, despite the cool air from the AC.

Yet, despite his racing heart, he did fall back asleep.

When he woke again, the bed was empty. A small pang of disappointment welled up in his chest, but before it could settle, his eyes caught sight of a sticky note by the bedside. Quickly, he grabbed it and read the decent handwriting.

And of course, he could hear it in Vegas’s voice.

"You were sleeping like a baby, couldn’t gather the courage to wake you up. I’ll be home by 5 from work. Be ready—we have a date tonight, as promised."

Nervous.

Pete felt absolutely nervous.

*****

Time flew by like a speeding train. Before Pete realized it, it was already 4 PM, and he hurried into the bathroom for a shower. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, almost enough to give him a heart attack from all the overthinking.

Where are we going? Will we just eat? What should I wear? What are we going to talk about? How should I act? And the questions kept coming, swirling in his mind like a storm.

After the shower, Pete rushed straight to the wardrobe. He picked out a beige V-neck, cotton and linen short-sleeved suit, simple yet elegant. He added a bracelet to the look, and of course, his wedding ring—the symbol of this unexpected yet treasured bond. He paused in front of the mirror.

Oh, the wedding glow…

With only 15 minutes to spare before 5, Pete did some final touch-ups on his face, adding just the right amount of detail to enhance his natural features. A few spritzes of a beautiful peach-scented cologne, and he was all set, looking as perfect as he could be for his first date with Vegas.

Exactly at 5 PM, the door to the room creaked open, causing Pete to jolt upright, his heart pounding in anticipation. The first thing that caught his eye was a bouquet—lush, crimson red roses. Their velvety petals were perfectly arranged, the deep red color contrasting sharply against the green leaves, and their fresh, intoxicating fragrance filled the room.

Then, Pete's gaze shifted from the bouquet to the face of his smiling husband, who was shamelessly checking him out from head to toe. Pete was already stunned, but when Vegas crossed the room and pulled him into a warm hug, his breath caught in his throat. Vegas’s nose brushed against his neck, sniffing lightly, while his lips pressed a soft, teasing kiss on Pete's skin.

Goosebumps erupted all over Pete’s body, making him shiver.He was taken aback by the sudden intimacy, but before he could react, Vegas stepped back slightly, holding out the bouquet.

“Here you go... for you,” Vegas said softly, his voice gentle but with that hint of teasing charm that always left Pete flustered.Pete took the flowers, their fragrance pure and heady, enough to make him a little light-headed. He inhaled deeply, savoring the scent, then looked up at Vegas with a shy smile.“Thank you,” he said, his voice carrying the weight of gratitude and a bit of awe at the romantic gesture.